Out of the Blue

Marilyn deliberately targets Connor because he is a vulnerable man with a criminal record living in a small town. His past assault conviction makes him the perfect scapegoat for murder. When she asks for books about crime at the library, she is specifically looking for someone like Connor, someone who can be manipulated into committing violence and then blamed for it.

Marilyn's request for crime books at the library, combined with the novel she specifically checks out, foreshadows her intent to recruit someone for a crime.

Connor arrives to confront Richard, but the situation quickly spirals out of control. Richard overpowers Connor and gets hold of his gun, nearly killing him. Just as Richard is about to pull the trigger, Jared (Astrid's boyfriend) enters the house, thinking it's a burglary. In the chaotic struggle that follows, Connor kills Jared, turning what was supposed to be one murder into two.

The plan's flaw was relying on a confrontation with an armed, dangerous man without backup or a clear escape route.

The film's final revelation exposes that Marilyn and Astrid are not just stepmother and stepdaughter, they are romantic lovers who have plotted together to murder Richard and claim his wealth. Their entire narrative about abuse and rescue was an elaborate act to manipulate Connor into killing Richard for them.

Early hints include Astrid's troubled home life, the secret meetings between Marilyn and Connor arranged with Astrid's knowledge, and their mutual desire to escape Richard.

Connor was always meant to be the scapegoat. Marilyn and Astrid orchestrated the entire plan knowing Connor would kill Richard, then arranged for him to be caught at the scene or nearby. When Connor kills Jared during the confrontation, it further seals his guilt. Marilyn's later phone call to express doubt is calculated to make Connor appear paranoid and emotionally unstable.

Marilyn's request for crime books and her choice of a man with a violent past reveals she needed someone disposable who could be blamed.

Jared enters the house believing he is there for a burglary job, someone hired him to rob the wealthy residence. He has no knowledge of the murder plot or Astrid's involvement. His arrival creates the deadly confusion that results in his own death when Connor, already in a panicked state, kills him thinking he is another threat.

Kim at the library hints at Astrid's relationship with the local playboy Jared, establishing a connection that becomes fatal.

The novel, recommended by Connor to Marilyn, becomes the blueprint for their crime. In the book, a drifter is seduced by a wealthy older woman into murdering her husband so they can be together. Marilyn and Astrid essentially follow this template, using Connor as the drifter they manipulate into killing Richard. The ending scene explicitly references this book, confirming the parallels.

Connor recommends this specific novel about a man manipulated into murder by a woman, not realizing he is living the same story.

Marilyn's call during the confrontation, where she expresses doubt about the plan and hints at betrayal, is a calculated move to make her story appear authentic. By appearing uncertain and concerned, she ensures that if Connor survives, his account of the conversation will match a woman who was coerced rather than a mastermind behind the murder.

This call is designed to create plausible deniability and make Connor appear delusional if he tries to explain the full plot.

Connor is ambushed by police, including his probation officer Jock, who have arrived to arrest him for the murders. During the confrontation, Connor reaches for his phone, likely trying to call for help or explain what happened. Police misinterpret this movement as a threat and shoot him dead. He dies believing he has been set up, his last thought a memory of Marilyn in her red swimsuit.

Jock's constant harassment of Connor throughout the film establishes the probation officer as an authority figure who views Connor as a criminal first.

Astrid is not merely a victim, she is an equal partner in the plot with Marilyn. The two are lovers who have conspired together to eliminate Richard so they can claim his wealth and be together. Astrid's relationship with Jared appears to have been part of the scheme, either to keep him close as a potential witness or distraction, or to ensure his appearance at the house that night.

Kim mentions Astrid's relationship with the local playboy Jared early on, establishing a connection that becomes significant.

Connor kills Jared in a panicked state of confusion. After struggling with Richard and nearly being killed, Connor is already on edge when Jared suddenly appears and attacks him. Connor has no way of knowing Jared is merely a burglar, he assumes Jared is either Richard's ally or someone there to kill him. In the chaotic fight, Connor stabs Jared to death.

The plan lacked any contingency for unexpected intruders, leaving Connor to make split-second decisions in a life-or-death situation.